Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Diamondbacks’ Rotation Bolstered: Are They NL’s Best?

Originally posted on Burn City Sports | By Jacob Hardin | Last updated 3/27/24

With Jordan Montgomery joining the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation, Arizona now showcases three pitchers ranked within the top 15 of 2023 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), according to Baseball Reference.

Zac Gallen holds the #7 spot, followed by Jordan Montgomery at #9, and Merrill Kelly at #13.

With the addition of Jordan Montgomery, the @DBacks now have three of last year's top 15 pitchers in wins above replacement.#MLB | #DBacks pic.twitter.com/bkaUEOCO3u

— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) March 27, 2024

Following the surprising acquisition of Montgomery , which caught many off guard, Steve Phillips, former New York Mets GM turned MLB Network analyst, went as far as to proclaim that the Diamondbacks possess the premier starting pitching staff in the National League.

"Right now, the Arizona Diamondbacks have the best starting pitching in the National League."@StevePhillipsGM reacts to the reported deal for Jordan Montgomery and highlights what he's most looking forward to watching this season! #HighHeat pic.twitter.com/9EeMWAghJm

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 27, 2024

This is quite the assertion, especially considering the strong rotations within the NL West alone. For instance, the San Diego Padres boast a 1-2-3 punch of Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Dylan Cease, while the San Francisco Giants present Logan Webb, Blake Snell, and Kyle Harrison in their rotation.

However, despite the stiff competition, Phillips maintains that no team in the National League can rival Arizona’s depth in the rotation. He argues that the Diamondbacks have even narrowed the overall gap with the Dodgers by strengthening their starting pitching arsenal.

What’s your take? Do you agree that the Diamondbacks possess the best rotation in the National League?

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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